renege

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Latin renegō, from negō (I deny). Possibly influenced by renegotiate. Doublet of renay. See also renegade.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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renege (third-person singular simple present reneges, present participle reneging, simple past and past participle reneged)

  1. (intransitive) To break a promise or commitment; to go back on one's word.
    • 2010, Dolly Freed, Possum Living, page 149:
      Previously I promised not to proselytize miserism, but now I want to renege a little on that promise. If your family income is anywhere near average, you can scrimp and save and cut back for maybe two to four years []
    • 2011 February 5, Michael Kevin Darling, “Tottenham 2 - 1 Bolton”, in BBC[1]:
      Clattenburg awarded Spurs a penalty for the third time after a handball in the area but he reneged after realising that the linesman had flagged Crouch offside in the build-up.
  2. (intransitive) In a card game, to break one's commitment to follow suit when capable.
  3. (transitive, archaic) To deny; to renounce
    • c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
      His captaines heart, / Which in the ſcuffles of great fights hath burſt / The Buckles on his breaſt, reneages all temper, / And is become the bellowes and the Fan / To coole a Gypſies Luſt.
    • 1608, Josuah Sylvester, The Sepmaines of Du Bartas:
      All Europe high (all sorts of rights reneged) / Against the truth and thee unholy leagued.
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Translations

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